1.5.2 Moral and Ethical Issues

Question 1

Give some effects on businesses of computers becoming part of the workforce.

Answer 1

• Higher productivity,
• Lower unit costs,
• Lower costs of renting,
• Lower labour costs.

Question 2

Give some uses of automated decision-making.

Answer 2

• Targeted feeds (social media),
• Application processes (jobs, mortgages, loans),
• Power distribution systems,
• Driverless cars,
• Stock trading,
• Plant automation systems.

Question 3

Define artificial intelligence.

Answer 3

The ability of a computer to replicate human intelligence, cognitive ability, and grasp abstract concepts.

Question 4

Describe how expert systems work.

Answer 4

Expert systems consist of a knowledge base made up of a set of facts and rules. This is used to build an inference engine which is interrogated to find diagnoses.

Question 5

Give some applications of AI.

Answer 5

• Neutral networks,
• Expert systems,
• Voice recognition.

Question 6

What are some negative environmental effects of computers?

Answer 6

• Toxic e-waste contaminating water,
• E-waste in third world countries,
• Greenhouse gases from greater electricity consumption.
• Reduced biodiversity,
• Impact of climate change on future generations.

Question 7

Give some ways in which technology can be used to protect the environment.

Answer 7

• Smart home systems,
• Sleep and stand-by features on devices,
• Smart engine designs.

Question 8

Define censorship.

Answer 8

The act of suppressing the content that people are able to view, publish and access.